Outdoors in the Pacific NorthwestTrails

Something you will find that is very north American are "Trails". In
fact, "National Trails" are a type of
unit in the U.S. National Park System, and National Trails Day is
celebrated in June. These creations of past and present human endeavor offer
up America's vast landscapes as places to be experienced step-by-step, again
and again by succeeding generations.

The Trails honor past achievements, and modern sensibilities towards
nature, and in doing so allow the individual to reclaim the challenge of
exploring a new landscape. The Trails are icons in their own right,
keeping alive a vital part of the American imagination.

The Northwest is criss-crossed with both historical and recreational
Trails-with-a-capital-"T"! (In addition to the nationally recognized
trails, as described here, are the myriad routes familiar to residents and
local biking, boating and mountaineering clubs.)

U.S. Trail Information
Center
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy is a nonprofit organization dedicated to
enriching America's communities and countryside by creating a nationwide
network of public trails from former rail lines and connecting corridors.
Their web site has information on rail-trails around the United States
including
Idaho,
Montana,
Oregon and
Washington. Each state has a list of trail summaries that include
local contact, trail endpoint, trail length, type of trail surface, and
icons indicating the type of uses for which the particular rail-trail is
best suited.

Applegate Trail (historic)
The southern route of the Oregon Trail through Nevada, northeastern
California, and Oregon:

Continental Divide National
Scenic Trail (recreational)
Vividly described as "the backbone of the world", the Continental Divide
literally divides the waters of the North American Continent. The Divide
runs along the crest of the Rocky Mountains, from Canada to Mexico, and in
our segment of the Pacific Northwest, it is found in Montana only. Waters
running west of the Divide feed the Columbia River and drain into the Gulf
of Mexico. Waters flowing east feed the Missouri-Mississippi Basin and drain
into the Gulf of Mexico. From one point in Montana, Glacier Park's Triple
Divide Peak, water also flows north to Hudson Bay, making Montana the only
part of the Divide that replenishes three Oceans. The topography of the
Divide varies greatly. Sometimes on ridges you can actually see the water
dividing at your feet, as you might imagine. In other places the Divide is
obscure as it meanders across broad plateaus.

The Trail was established by Congress in 1968 to ensure it remained
accessible to hikers, horseback riders, and in some places, motorists. About
800 miles (1,300 km) of the trails entire 3,100-mile (5,000-km) length
passes through Montana. Here it takes in Glacier and Yellowstone National
Parks, as well as 10 national forests with designated wilderness areas, and
the Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge for trumpeter swans. Historic
attractions along the trail include several ghost towns, and two mountain
passes crossed by Lewis and Clark in their famous exploration of 1804-6.

The Oregon Trail
Created by Mike Trinklein and Steve Boettcher, teachers and makers of the
award-winning documentary film The Oregon Trail, this site includes a
thorough history of the Trail, descriptions and pictures of its historic
sites, and obscure "Fantastic Facts" about events that happened along the
way. There is also an online
Study Guide
can be printed and duplicated for classroom use.

The Pacific Crest Trail
(recreational)
The Pacific Crest Trail originated and continues to exist today, with a
vision to enable a continuous hiking experience along the western edge of
north America. The 2,650 miles of the Trail connects high country from
Canada to Mexico. The Trail now spans eight national parks and monuments,
five state parks, twenty-four national forests, thirty-two wilderness areas,
and three Bureau of Land Management districts.

Implementing the vision began in the late 1920s and culminated in 1968
with its designation by Congress as a National Scenic Trail. While the Trail
is complete in that there is a trail with right-of-way access along its
entire length, the work to enhance its integrity continues. Portions of the
Trail require travel on unsafe, unaesthetic, busy roads. Twelve percent of
the trail is on private land, and some easements provided by landowners are
as narrow as five feet. Yet the Trail has its organized supporters, and the
Pacific Crest Trail Association works with the federal government to resolve
these issues.

Each year, about 100-150 hardy "through-hikers" attempt the trail's
entire length. Others rise to the challenge of border-to-border hikes within
a state. Thousands will use segments of the Trail, as they enjoy the great
outdoors.

Pacific Crest Trail - Northern Washington SectionA guide covering the Pacific Crest Trail as it traverses the North
Cascade Mountains in the state of Washington. This section of the
Pacific Crest Trail runs 70 miles between Interstate 91 at Snoqualmie Pass
and Route 2 at Stevens Pass. Generally it would take an average of five to
seven days to hike this entire section. The hiker will pass a half dozen
classic high alpine lakes each day along the trail, each one a prime
destination in itself.

Pacific Crest Trail
Association
The mission of the Association is to promote and protect the Pacific Crest
National Scenic Trail so as to reflect its world-class significance for the
enjoyment, education and adventure of hikers and equestrians.

The Pacific Northwest Trail (recreational)
The PNT extends from Brown Pass at the Continental Divide in Glacier
National Park, Montana to Cape Alava at Olympic National park, Washington.
The PNT is an east-west route that uses existing trails and roads. It
crosses seven national forests, three national parks, and some private and
state land.

Pacific Northwest Trail
Association
The mission of the Pacific Northwest Trail Association is to promote,
protect, construct and maintain the Pacific Northwest Trail as a public
service project that makes a lasting contribution to America's environment
and to the next generations.